Safety device for fire escapes



Aug. 18, 1931. N. CHINICH SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIRE ESCAPES Filed Jan. 16,1930 2 SheetsSheet l ATTORNEY 8, 1931. N. CHINICH SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIREESCAPES Filed Jan. 16, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 18,1931 UNITED STATES NETTIE CHINICI-I, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY SAFETY DEVICEFOR FIRE ESCAPES Application filed January 16, 1930. Serial No. 421,248.

As is well known ladders which are slidably associated with fire escapesin tall buildings are weight influenced in an upward direction so thatthe lower end of the ladder is elevated a suitable distance above theground to permit of the passage of pedestrians, and such ladders arealso held. elevated to prevent the same being tampered with by maliciousor unauthorized persons.

The suspending cable between the top of the ladder and the weight isexposed to weather conditions and is liable to disintegration orbreakage. The weight is swung by wind pressure which alsoadds to theunstability of the cable. The breakage of the cable will, of course,result in the falling or precipitation of the weight and this is liableto cause segious property damage if not a loss of ii c.

It may, therefore, be considered the primary object of this invention toprovide means whereby the counter-balancing weight for the ladders offire escapes is held from falling beyond a predetermined distance shouldthe cable attached thereto become broken.

It is a still further object to provide a means whereby weights for thispurpose will be effectively guided when subjected to movement, held fromwind interference, and cushioned in the fall thereof should the cablebecome broken.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from aconsideration of the following detailed description when read inconnection with the accompanying drawings which form part of theapplication, with the understanding, however, that the improvement iscapable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showingof the drawings nor to the precise construction described and,therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as donot affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof asexpressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement in applied position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view approximately on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view approximately at the upper rail thereof hasrigidly fixed thereto a bracket 3 and this bracket has swivelly securedthereto the yoke support 4: for a sheave wheel 5.

' The base of the platform 2, on the end thereof in a line with the endof the platform which is provided with the sheave wheel 5 has fixedthereon a substantially U- shaped plate 6 that aifords a guide for theladder 7. The ladder, of course, is of metal and the outer side rail ofthe ladder has a spring catch 8 to engage with the guide 6 and to holdthe ladder in raised position.

The upper end of the ladder has pivotally secured to the side railsthereof a bail 9 and fixed toan eye at the center or connecting portionfor the arms of the bail there is one end of a cable 10. The oppositeend of the cable is fixedly secured to the top or upper portion of acounter balancing weight, 11. In the showing of the drawings the weightis round in cross section.

Surrounding and fixed to the weight 11 there are the rounded bodyportions of split clips 12. From their ends the clip members 12 areformed with straight extensions 13 and 14, respectively. Arrangedbetween the straight ends or extensions 13 of the clip members there isa plate 15, and passing through openings in the said ends 13 and throughthe plate there are securing elements in the nature of bolts which areengaged by nuts. The plate 15 provides an outer guard for the weight.

The inner ends or arms 14 of the clips 12 merge into substantiallyrectangular guide elements 16 and are arranged to travel over avertically disposed rail 17 that is fixed to the landings or platforms 1and 2.

As disclosed by the drawings the rail 17 is in the nature of a channelediron and also as disclosed by the drawings both the top and lower endsof the rail are fixedly supported upon. outstanding metal members 18 and19 which are fixedly secured to the platforms 1 and 2. The members 18and 19 are also preferably in the nature of channel irons and there issupported upon the member 19 an open box-like metal structure broadlyindicated by the numeral 20. The box member is also of metal and isdisposed directly be-- low the weight 11. In the box there is a movableplate in the nature of a platform 21 and this platform is sustainedelevated in the box through the medium of a strong coil spring 22.

The construction and advantages of the improvement will, it is thought,be understood and appreciated. Obviously the weight 11 is held frommoving in any except a vertical direction and, therefore, the saidweight cannot be influenced by the wind. The weight counter-balances theladder so that the same is held elevated until the catch member 8 isreleased in which instance the weight will be guided upwardly on therail 17 as the ladder descends. Should the supporting cable becomebroken the weight will be guided downwardly on the rail 17, received inthe box-like member 20 and will contact with the cushioning or buffermeans provided by the plate 21 and the spring 22, so that liability ofthe falling of the weight beyond the. level of the box is effectivelyprevented.

Having described the invention, I claim:

A counter-balancing weight that has a cable trained over a sheave wheeland which cable is connected to the upperrend of a vertically movableladder for a fire escape, split ring bands arranged around and securedto the weight, a plate between the outer ends of the said bands, saidbands having their opposite ends of substantially rectangular formationto provide guides, a vertically disposed rail for the guides, an openbox like member fixedly supported at the lower end of the rail anddisposed below the weight, a plate in the box-like member and a coilspring influencing the plate upwardly.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

NETTIE CHINICH.

